Welcome

Dear Visitor, Dear Comrade, Dear Friend, welcome to the English section of the homepage of the party DIE LINKE (The Left) Germany.

DIE LINKE as a socialist party stands for alternatives, for a better future. We democratic socialists, the democratic left with different political biographies, ideological and religious influences, women and men, old and young, established and immigrants, people with and without disabilities, have come together in a new left party. We cling to the dream of mankind that a better world is possible. […]

We pursue a concrete goal: we fight for a society in which no child has to grow up poor, in which all men and women can live a self-determined life in peace, dignity and social security and can democratically shape social relations. To achieve this we need a different economic and social system: democratic socialism. […]

We are not prepared to accept a world in which profit interests determine the prospects of millions of men and women and in which exploitation, war and imperialism cut whole countries off from hope and the future. Where profit rules above all else, there is little space for democracy. […]

We proceed from the traditions of democracy and socialism, of the struggles for human rights and emancipation, against fascism and racism, imperialism and militarism. We want to overcome all social relationships in which people are exploited, disenfranchised and deprived of the right to make their own decisions and in which the social and natural foundations of their lives are destroyed. […]

We believe in global co-operation rather than the concept that might makes right. A world under the diktat of an omnipotent global capitalism is not a world worth striving for. Business and politics must be centred on the vital needs and interests of the majority of the people.

We want to help turn passive resentment into active resistance. […] Democracy, freedom, equality, justice, internationalism and solidarity are among our fundamental values. They are inseparable from peace, the conservation of nature and emancipation. We are fighting for a system change because capitalism, which is based on inequality, exploitation, expansion and competition, is incompatible with those goals.

We have united in a new political force that stands for freedom and equality, fights resolutely for peace, is democratic and social, ecological and feminist, open and plural, militant and tolerant. Together with citizens in Germany, in Europe and throughout the world, with trade unions and movements, we are looking for alternative solutions and social alternatives. We want to build a society of democratic socialism in which reciprocal recognition of the freedom and equality of every individual is the condition for the development of all in solidarity. We are fighting for a change of course in politics that will open the way for a fundamental transformation of society, that will overcome capitalism. (Extracts from the Preamble of the Party Programme)

On June 16, 2007, DIE LINKE party was formed out of the Linkspartei.PDS and the Electoral Alternative for Labour and Social Justice (WASG). Within two years, two parties with different backgrounds but similar objectives merged into an all-German left alternative. DIE LINKE is the only force in the Bundestag which is consistently committed to social justice, democracy and peace. It is open to people with an interest in politics – be they from social movements, trade unions, or simply led by their conviction.

Presently, DIE LINKE has 58.100 members organized in 16 Land and 359 district branches. Of them, 37 per cent are women – the highest share of any party in parliament. Since its foundation in 2007, a large number of people joined DIE LINKE and are fighting together for a country of justice, a socially fair environmental policy, and a peaceful world.

DIE LINKE is associated with two higher level organisations in Europe. For one she is represented in the European Parliament as part of the parliamentary group GUE/NGL.

She is also a member of the Party of the European Left, which has currently 25 member parties from all over Europe.